AN OXFORDSHIRE couple who found love after tragedy are hoping for a big welcome when they embark on a four-day bike ride to raise funds for a cancer charity.

Sue Duncombe and Patrick Maguire were both widowed at the age of 52. He lost his wife Pam to bowel cancer in 2007 and Sue's first husband Philip died of prostate cancer on Christmas Day 2009, aged 57.

They both volunteer, fundraise and campaign for Cancer Research UK and met through their charity work. After a whirlwind romance they married in December 2016.

The couple, who are from Childrey near Wantage, have already raised more than £80,000 for the charity, in honour of their loved ones.

ALSO READ: 'Incurable cancer won't stop me living life to the full'

They are now on a mission to raise £5,000 in their latest challenge called N2S4CRUK which starts next week.

They will set off from the northernmost Cancer Research UK centre in Newcastle to the southernmost centre in Southampton.

Herald Series:

Sue Duncombe and Patrick Maguire. Picture: Cancer Research UK

Ms Duncombe said: “We’re really excited for our latest challenge and to meet many of the supporters, scientists, nurses and doctors associated with cancer research along the way."

Her husband added: “Having both been widowed at the age of 52, due to our spouses dying from cancer, we recognise the importance of Cancer Research UK’s work and want to save other families from having to go through this devastating experience.

ALSO READ: Hospital denies 'wall of silence’ over changes to car parking

"Since the deaths of Pam and Philip in 2007 and 2009, we became more and more involved with Cancer Research UK to beat cancer sooner and reduce the number of families whose lives are devastated by cancer.”

The pair are no stranger to fundraising events. In their first major fundraising effort together, they spent two weeks on two wheels, touring 98 Cancer Research UK shops and three of the charity’s research centres to raise money – covering a distance of 850 miles.

They have cycled between the highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales.

The Three Peaks Challenge saw the couple hike 25 miles and cycle almost 500 miles in eight days.

ALSO READ: Cancer survivors brave scorching heat for emotional 24-hour Relay for Life

Mr Maguire also finished a series of 10k runs and half marathons on the 10-year anniversary of his first wife's death.

The couple are hoping people will join them when they cycle through Oxfordshire, particularly the three miles from the charity's Oxford office at Oxford Business Park to the research centre at The Churchill Hospital on Thursday.

Meet at the Cancer Research UK offices on John Smith Drive at 3pm.

To find out more about the couple's 2019 challenge or to donate visit n2s4cruk.com.